Collapsible leg assembly for television sets and the like



Sept. 8, 1959 I H. L. LEVI 2,903,222

COLLAPSIBLE LEG ASSEMBLY FOR TELEVISION SETS AND THE LIKE Fil ed Oct.14, 1957 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 194; Z. 464/;

ATTOAP/YGYS Sept. 8, 1959 H. L. LEVI I 2,903,222

' COLLAPSIBLE LEG ASSEMBLY FOR TELEVISION SETS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct.14; 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ti E.

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United States Patent COLLAPSIBLE LEG ASSEMBLY FOR TELEVISION SETS ANDTHE LIKE Hans L. Levi, Chappaqua, N.Y., assignor to Murphy Door BedCompany, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationOctober '14, 1957, Serial No. 689,869

16 Claims. (Cl. 248-169) This invention relates to a folding supportingstructure for furniture and the like, and more particularly to acollapsible leg assembly especially adapted for television sets andother portable and movable devices of a similar nature.

Heretofore various types of folding leg assemblies have been employed infurniture design and other related fields, but until the advent of thepresent invention, all such assemblies were cumbersome in operation andrequired involved manipulation of parts either to erect the assembly foruse or to fold it up for storage or moving. Furthermore, no device wasavailable in the art having the optimum combination of features wherebysimplicity of manipulation, strength, and minimum storage dimensions allwere provided.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible legassembly in which the respective leg means can be operated, either toerect them for use or to fold them up for storage, by the manipulationof only one of the leg means.

It is another object to provide a collapsible leg assembly in which theleg means fold toward one another and lie flat against one another in anoverlapped relation such that minimum storage dimensions are requiredfor the assembly.

A further object is to provide a collapsible leg assembly havingpositive lock down in its folded position and positive lock up in itserect position, and the locking means in both positions being operableby movement of the leg means controlling the folding and erecting motionof the assembly.

An additional object is to provide a collapsible leg assembly havingparticular adaptability for disposition in a bottom recess on atelevision set or the like, so that it may readily be erected or openedfor use in supporting the set above the floor or other foundation, orclosed against the set and within such recess when it is desired to restthe set on a table or similar device.

Another object is to provide a collapsible leg assembly having generallyuniversal and diverse applicability and utility in furniture andappliance design.

Still another object is to provide a collapsible leg assembly having theabove described properties and which also is sturdy, lightweight, andrelatively cheap and simple to manufacture.

Briefly, the collapsible leg assembly of the present invention iscomprised of a flat supporting base adapted to be secured by screws orother means against the bottom of the television set or other device tobe supported.

The supporting base has a pair of oppositely extending lateral shouldersat a first end portion thereof, and a pair of depending guide flangesdisposed along the side edges of a second end portion thereof. A slidemember is slidably disposed between the guide flanges on the undersideof the base and is movable longitudinally of the supporting base betweenfirst and second limiting positions. A first leg means is pivotallyaflixed at one of its ends to the slide member and consists of a singleleg member having two longitudinally adjustable parts for varying itslength and has means for maintaining such parts in any preselectedlongitudinal position relative to one another. The other end of thefirst leg means has a bifurcated foot portion for providing greaterstability.

A first pair of brace members, each pivotally connected at itsrespective ends to an opposite edge of the central portion of the baseand a corresponding edge of an intermediate portion of the first legmeans, provide a movable fulcrum for the first leg means, wherebymovement of the first leg means swings the same about such fulcrum andcauses the slide member to move toward one of said limiting positions.

A second leg means consisting of a pair of interconnected leg membersare pivotally mounted in a laterally spaced relation to one another atsaid first end portion of the base and adjacent respective of theaforesaid lateral shoulders of the base, and a second pair of bracemembers are each pivotally connected at one end to an intermediateportion of the outer edge of a respective one of said interconnected legmembers and at the other end to said slide member.

Stop means is aflixed to the underside of said base adjacent the ends ofsaid guide flanges near said first limiting position to preventseparation of the slide member from said flanges. In addition, a balland spring detent means is disposed on the slide member for releasablyengaging respective holes in the base member at said limiting positionsto releasably hold said slide member at either of said positions.

Both of said leg means are movable by the manual adjustment of the firstleg means from an open position, at which said ball and spring detentmeans engages the hole at said first limiting position and said firstand second leg means extend outwardly from said base, to a closedposition, by folding movement of said first and second leg means towardone another, at which closed position the ball and spring detent meansof the slide member engages the hole at said second limiting position,and said first and second leg means lie fiat against the underside ofsaid base in overlapped relation, the second leg means being sandwichedbetween said base and said first leg means, and the depth of the closedassembly being less than A catch means is disposed on the underside ofsaid base for releasably holding said first leg means in said closedposition, and resilient means are provided on the outer or bottom end ofeach leg member for providing a contacting surface for said assemblywith respect to a supporting foundation in both the open and closedpositions of the assembly.

Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent in thefollowing description and appended claims, and in the drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the invention, showinga television set in phantom, and the leg members in the open position;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view similar to Fig. 1, showing the leg assemblyin the closed position;

Fig. 3 is a partial section view taken along lines 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial section taken along lines 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section taken along lines 55 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. '6 is a section taken along lines 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly Fig. 1, one embodiment of theinvention is shown and designated by the reference numeral 10. Itconsists of a flat elongated supporting base 11 afiixed to the bottom orunderside 12 of a television set 13, and disposed within a recess 14therein, by any conventional means such as screws 15 or the like (seealso Figs. 3 and 4). The supporting base 11 has an enlarged portion 16at one end 17 which consists of a pair of oppositely extending lateralshoulders 18, 19. The other end portion 26 of the base 11 has a pair ofdepending guide flanges 21, 22 disposed along its respective side edges23, 24 to provide oppositely disposed respective slide grooves 25, 26along the underside 27 of the aforesaid base 11. (See also Figs. and 6.)

Slide member 28, having lateral extensions 29, 30 slidably disposed inan interfitting relationship with the respective slide grooves 25, 26,is movable along said guide flanges 21, 22, longitudinally of said base11, between first and second limiting positions as will be described inmore detail hereinafter.

A first leg means 31, consisting of a single leg member 32 is pivotallyaifixed at its upper end 33, as viewed in Fig. 3, to slide member 28 bya conventional pin 34 or the like which extends through said flanges 35,36 on said leg member 32. and has suitably enlarged outer ends 37, 38 tomaintain the pivotal connection. The leg member 32 consists of twoslidable interfitting longitudinally adjustable parts 39, 40, forvarying the overall length of leg member 32, and any preselectedrelative longitudinal position of the aforesaid parts 39, 40 ismaintained by a screw means 41 which extends through adjustment slot 42in part 39 and threadably engages part 40. The bottom or lower end 43 offirst leg means 31, as viewed in Fig. 1, has a bifurcated foot portion44 to enhance stability thereof in use.

Brace members 45 and 46 are each pivotally connected at their respectiveadjacent ends 47, 49 to an intermediate portion 51 of corresponding sideflanges 35, 36 of first leg means 31, and at their respective otheradjacent ends 48, to corresponding opposite edges 52, 53 of centralportion 54 of the base member 11. By conventional bolts or rivets 55such brace members 45, 46 provide a movable fulcrum constituted by ends47, 49 of brace members 45, 46 about which pivotal movement of the firstleg means 31 causes slide member 28 to move longitudinally of said base11 along guide flanges 21, 22 between first and second limitingpositions A and B respectively. Ball and spring detent means 56,disposed within said slide member 28, detent means is releasablyengageable with holes 57, 53 in base 11 at respective limiting positionsA and B. Transversely disposed stop means 59, consisting of a dependingflange or the like is afiixed to the underside 27 of base 11 adjacentends 61 of guide flanges 21, 22 near first limiting position A toprevent slide member 28 from moving out of or separating from saidflanges 21, 22, in the event that slide member 28 is moved to the leftas viewed in Fig. 3 beyond the first limiting position A.

Second leg means 62, consisting of a pair of interconnected leg members63, 64 are pivotally mounted in a lateral spaced relation to one anotherat end 17 of base 11 by conventional pivot pin 65. Such legs 63, 64 aredisposed adjacent respective lateral shoulders 18, 19, and have a pairof brace members 66 (only one shown) each pivotally connected atadjacent ends 68, by pin means 69 to an intermediate portion 70 ofrespective side flanges 71 at the outer edge 72 of each leg member 63,64 and the other adjacent ends 73 of brace members 66 are pivotallyaifixed to slide member 28 for swinging movement of said second legmeans 62 about pin in response to sliding movement of slide member 28.

Side flanges 35, 36 of the first leg means 31 are provided withoutwardly bent portions 74-, 75 as shown in Fig. 6, near the lower ends76, 77 of said flanges and are releasably engageable with complementaryshaped portions 78, 79 on respective depending side flanges 80, 81 onthe central portion 54 of base member 11, in a manner to be described.

Rubber pads 82, or other resilient means are afiixed to each of the feet83 of the leg members 32, 63, 64. Such pads 82 have a pair of rightangle faces 84, 85 which provide contacting surfaces for the assemblywith respect to a supporting foundation 86 in both the open and closedpositions of the assembly. The pads 82 are connected to the respectivefeet 83 by any suitable means such as glue, screws 87, friction, etc.

In use, the leg assembly 10 may be adjusted for an erect or extendedsupporting position as shown in Fig. l, or a collapsed or closedposition as shown in Fig. 2, depending upon whether it is desired, forexample, to support the television set 13 or other object at an elevatedposition above a supporting foundation 86, or to have the set 13 rest onsuch foundation 86.

With the leg assembly in the collapsed position as shown in Fig. 2, thefirst leg means 31 and second leg means 62 lie flat against theunderside 27 of base 11, and within recess 14 in the bottom 12 of thetelevision set 13, the second leg means 62 being sandwiched between thebase 11 and the first leg means 31 as shown. In such position theoutwardly bent portions 74, 75 of first leg means 31 releasably engagethe complimentary portions 78, '79 on base 11, thereby providing catchmeans for releasably holding the first leg means 31, and consequentlythe second leg means 62, in said closed position. In addition, ball andspring detent means 56 releesably engages hole 58 in base 11 at thesecond limiting position B to further assist in maintaining the closedposition of the assembly.

In the aforementioned closed position surfaces 84 of the rubber pads 82provide resilient contacting surfaces for the assembly with respect tothe supporting foundation 86, and prevent scratching or otherwisedamaging of such foundation 36, as well as providing suflicient frictionto prevent the television set 13 from slippage with respect to thefoundation 86.

By virtue of the fact that the respective leg means 31 and 64 are foldedtoward one another in the overlapped relation as shown in Fig. 2, and,in addition, by virtue of the fact that the entire assembly is of suchreduced thickness, minimum dimensions are required for the recess 14,and the depth of the closed assembly can be less than /1 of an inch.Thus use of this assembly does not require change in the overalldimensions of the object or device with which it is to be used.

When it is desired to manipulate the assembly to an open position asshown in Fig. 3, by grasping the first leg means 31 at, for example, itsbifurcated foot portion 44, and pulling the same outwardly anddownwardly from the base 11 as viewed in Fig. 1, said first leg means 31is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction about ends 48, 5b ofrespective brace members 45, 46, and slide member 28 is moved inwardlyor to the left, thereby disengaging ball and spring detent means 56 fromhole 58. Continued motion of the leg means 31 as above will cause saidslide member 28 to move until the ball and spring detent means 56 isengaged with the hole 57 at the first limiting position A. The abovemovement of slide member 28 simultaneously causes clockwise movement ofthe second leg means 62, as viewed in Fig. 1, so that when the firstlimiting position A is reached as described, the first and second legmeans 31, 62, extend outwardly and downwardly from base 11 in an erector elevated supporting position. In this erect position, the other sidesurfaces 85 of the rubber pads 82 provide contacting surfaces withrespect to the supporting foundation 86 in much the same manner aspreviously described for the other surfaces 84 thereof.

By adjustment of screw means 41 and the interfitting parts 39 and 40 ofthe first leg means 31, the base 11 can be adjusted for any desiredangular position with respect to the horizontal within limits providedby slot 40, so that the television screen 88 will have the desired anglefor the viewer.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention provides a novelstructure fulfilling the objects previously mentioned, above. Th sdevice may be constructed of relatively thin gauge metal, or may beformed from a suitable plastic or other material.

Furthermore, the collapsible assembly may be integrally formed with theparticular television set or other object with which it is to be used.On the other hand, it may be separately constructed and have suitableclamps or other means for afiixation to one of any number of variousdevices with which it may be used from time to time.

This invention has shown particular utility for supplying televisionsets, but it is equally adaptable for use in connection with otherdevices such as record players, salesmens table stands, portable sewingmachines, tables, chairs, luggage, refrigerators, kits, cabinets, etc.One of its great virtues resides in the fact that it displaces any typeof permanent table or supporting structure which might be undesirable insmall apartments and the like where space considerations are highlyimportant, and things are preferably stored when not in use.

While one embodiment of this invention has been shown and describedabove, it is to be understood that certain changes and additions willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from thescope and spirit of this invention.

1 claim:

1. A collapsible leg assembly for furniture and the like comprising asupporting base, a sliding pivot means disposed on said base and movablethereon between first and second limiting positions, a fixed pivot meansafiixed to said base at a spaced position from said first limitingposition, first leg means pivotally attached to said sliding pivotmeans, first linkage means interconnected between said first leg meansand said fixed pivot means for establishing a movable fulcrum for saidfirst leg means, whereby movement of said first leg means will swing thesame about said fulcrum and cause said sliding pivot means to movetoward one of said limiting positions, second leg means pivotallyattached to said base on the opposite side of said fixed pivot meansfrom said first leg means, second linkage means interconnected betweensaid sliding pivot means and said second leg means for causing swingingof the latter in response to movement of said sliding pivot means, allof said leg means movable by the manual adjustment of said first legmeans from an open position, at which said sliding pivot means is atsaid first limiting position, and said first and second leg means extendoutwardly from said base, to a closed position, by folding movement ofsaid first and second leg means toward one another, at which closedposition said sliding pivot means is at said second limiting positionand said first and second leg means lie flat against said base inoverlapped relation.

2. A collapsible leg assembly for furniture and the like comprising asupporting base, guide means disposed on the underside of said base, aslide member slidably disposed on said guide means, and being movablebetween first and second limiting positions; a first leg means pivotallyaffixed to said slide member, first pivotal brace means interconnectingsaid base and said first leg means, whereby a movable fulcrum isprovided for said first leg means and movement of said first leg meansswings the same about said fulcrum and causes said slide member to movetoward one of said limiting positions, a second leg means pivotallymounted to said base, second brace means interconnecting said second legmeans and said slide member; both of said leg means movable by themanual adjustment of said first leg means from an open position, atwhich said slide member is at said first limiting position and saidfirst and second leg means extend outwardly from said base, to a closedposition, by folding movement of said first and second leg means towardone another, at which closed position said slide member is at saidsecond limiting position and said first and second leg means lie flatagainst the underside of said base in overlapped relation.

3. A collapsible leg assembly for furniture and the like comprising asupporting base, guide means disposed on the underside of said base, aslide member slidably disposed on said guide means and being movablebetween first and second limiting positions; a first leg means pivotallyafiixed to said slide member, first pivotal brace means interconnectingsaid base and said first leg means, whereby a movable fulcrum isprovided for said first leg means and movement of said first leg meansswings the same about said fulcrum and causes said slide member to movetoward one of said limiting positions, a second leg means pivotallymounted to said base, second brace means interconnecting said second legmeans and said slide member; stop means afiixed to said base adjacentthe end of said guide means near said first limiting position to preventsaid slide member from disengaging said guide means; first detent meanson said slide member and complementary second detent means on said guidemeans at each of said limiting positions for engagement with said firstdetent means to releasably hold said slide member at either of saidlimiting positions; both of said leg means movable by the manualadjustment of said first leg means from an open position, at which saidfirst detent means is in engagement with said second detent means atsaid first limiting position and said first and second leg means extendoutwardly from said base, to a closed position, by folding movement ofsaid first and second leg means toward one another, at which closedposition said first detent means is in engagement with said seconddetent means at said second limiting position and said first and secondleg means lie flat against the underside of said base in overlappedrelation.

4. A collapsible leg assembly for furniture and the like comprising asupporting base, guide means disposed on the underside of said base, aslide member slidably disposed on said guide means and being movablebetween first and second limiting positions; a first leg means pivotallyaffixed to said slide member, first pivotal brace means interconnectingsaid base and said first leg means, whereby a movable fulcrum isprovided for said first leg means and movement of said first leg meansswings the same about said fulcrum and causes said slide member to movetoward one of said limiting positions, a second leg means pivotallymounted to said base, second brace means interconnecting said second legmeans and said slide member; both of said leg means movable by themanual adjustment of said first leg means from an open position, atwhich said slide member is at said first limiting position and saidfirst and second leg means extend outwardly from said base, to a closedposition, by folding movement of said first and second leg means towardone another, at which closed position said slide member is at saidsecond limiting position and said first and second leg means lie flatagainst the underside of said base in overlapped relation; and catchmeans disposed on said base for releasably holding said first leg meansin said closed position.

5. A collapsible leg assembly for furniture and the like comprising asupporting base, guide means disposed on the underside of said base, aslide member slidably disposed on said guide means and being movablebetween first and second limiting positions; a first leg means pivotallyalfixed to said slide member, first pivotal brace means interconnectingsaid base and said first leg means, whereby a movable fulcrum isprovided for said first leg means and movement of said first leg meansswings the same about said fulcrum and causes said slide member to movetoward one of said limiting positions, a second leg means pivotallymounted to said base, second brace means interconnecting said second legmeans and said slide member; both of said leg means movable by themanual adjustment of said first leg means from an open position, atwhich said slide member is at said first limiting position and saidfirst and second leg means extend outwardly from said base, to a closedposition, by folding movement of said first and second leg means towardone another, at which closed position said slide member is at saidsecond limiting position and said first and second leg means lie flatagainst the underside of said base in overlapped relation; the depth ofthe closed assembly being less than A.

6. A collapsible leg assembly for furniture and the like comprising anelongated supporting base and a pair of depending guide flanges disposedalong the side edges of an end portion of said base, a slide memberslidably disposed between said guide flanges on the underside of saidbase and being movable between first and second limiting positions; afirst leg means pivotally affixed at one end to said slide member, firstpivotal brace means interconnecting said base and said first leg means,whereby a movable fulcrum is provided for said first leg means andmovement of said first leg means swings the same about said fulcrum andcauses said slide member to move toward one of said limiting positions,a second leg means pivotally mounted to said base, second brace meansinterconnecting said second leg means and said slide member; both ofsaid leg means movable by the manual adjustment of said first leg meansfrom an open position, at which said slide member is at said firstlimiting position and said first and second leg means extend outwardlyfrom said base, to a closed position, by folding movement of said firstand second leg means toward one another, at which closed position saidslide member is at said second limiting position and said first andsecond leg means lie flat against the underside of said base inoverlapped relation.

7. A collapsible leg assembly for furniture and the like comprising anelongated supporting base and a pair of depending guide flanges disposedalong the side edges of an end portion of said base, a slide memberslidably disposed between said guide flanges on the underside of saidbase and being movable between first and second limiting positions; afirst leg means pivotally aflixed at one end to said slide member, firstpivotal brace means interconnecting said base and said first leg means,whereby a movable fulcrtnn is provided for said first leg means andmovement of said first leg means swings the same about said fulcrum andcauses said slide member to move toward one of said limiting positions,a second leg means pivotally mounted to said base, second brace meansinterconnecting said second leg means and said slide member; both ofsaid leg means movable by the manual adjustment of said first leg meansfrom an open position, at which said slide member is at said firstlimiting position and said first and second leg means extend outwardlyfrom said base, to a closed position, by folding movement of said firstand second leg means toward one another, at which closed position saidslide member is at said second limiting position and said first andsecond leg means lie flat against the underside of said base inoverlapped relation; the second leg means being sandwiched between saidbase and said first leg means and catch means disposed on said base forreleasably holding said first leg means in said closed position.

8. A collapsible leg assembly for furniture and the like comprising anelongated supporting base and a pair of depending guide flanges disposedalong the side edges of an end portion of said base, a slide memberslidably disposed between said guide flanges on the underside of saidbase and being movable between first and second limiting positions; afirst leg means pivotally affixed at one end to said slide member, firstpivotal brace means interconnecting said base and said first leg means,whereby a movable fulcrum is provided for said first leg means andmovement of said first leg means swings the same about said fulcrum andcauses said slide member to move toward one of said limiting positions,a second leg means pivotally mounted to said base, second brace meansinterconnecting said second leg means and said slide member; firstdetent means on said slide member and complementary second detent meanson said supporting base at each of said limiting positions forengagement with said first detent means to releasably hold said slidemember at either of said limiting positions; both of said leg meansmovable by the manual adjustment of said first leg means from an openposition, at which said first detent means is in engagement with saidsecond detent means at said first limit-ing position and said first andsecond leg means extend outwardly from said base, to a closed position,by folding movement of said first and second leg means toward oneanother, at which closed position said first detent means is inengagement with said second detent means at said second limitingposition and said first and second leg means lie flat against theunderside of said base in overlapped relation.

9. A collapsible leg assembly for furniture and the like comprising anelongated supporting base and a pair of depending guide flanges disposedalong the side edges of an end portion of said base, a slide memberslidably disposed between said guide flanges on the underside of saidbase and being movable between first and second limiting positions; afirst leg means pivotally aflixed at one end to said slide member; afirst pair of brace members each pivotally connected at its respectiveends to an opposite edge of the central portion of said base and acorresponding edge of an intermediate portion of said first leg means,whereby a movable fulcrum is provided for said first leg means andmovement of said first leg means swings the same about said fulcrum andcauses said slide member to move toward one of said limiting positions,a second leg means consisting of a pair of in terconnected leg memberspivotally mounted to said base, a second pair of brace members eachpivotally connected at one end to an intermediate portion of the outeredge of a respective one of said interconnected leg members and at itsother end to said slide member; first detent means on said slide memberand complementary second detent means on said supporting base at each ofsaid limiting positions for engagement with said first detent means toreleasably hold said slide member at either of said limiting positions;both of said leg means movable by the manual adjustment of said firstleg means from an open position, at which said first detent means is inengagement with said second detent means at said first limiting positionand said first and second leg means extend outwardly from said base, toa closed position, by folding movement of said first and second legmeans toward one another, at which closed position said first detentmeans is in engagement with said second detent means at said secondlimiting position and said first and second leg means lie flat againstthe underside of said base in overlapped relation.

10. A collapsible leg assembly for furniture and the like comprising aflat supporting base having a pair of oppositely extending lateralshoulders at a first end portion thereof, and a pair of depending guideflanges disposed along the side edges of a second end portion of saidbase, a slide member slidably disposed between said guide flanges on theunderside of said base and being movable between first and secondlimiting positions; a first leg means pivotally afiixed at one end tosaid slide member; a first pair of brace members each pivotallyconnected at its respective ends to an opposite edge of the centralportion of said base and a corresponding edge of an intermediate portionof said first leg means, whereby a movable fulcrum is provided for saidfirst leg means and movement of said first leg means swings the sameabout said fulcrum and causes said slide member to move toward one ofsaid limiting positions, a second leg means consisting of a pair ofinterconnected leg members pivotally mounted in a spaced relation to oneanother at said first end portion of said base and adjacent respectiveof said lateral shoulders thereof, a second pair of brace members eachpivotally connected at one end to an intermediate portion of the outeredge of a respective one of Said interconnected leg members and at itsother end to said slide member; first detent means on said slide memberand complementary second detent means on said Supporting base at each ofsaid limiting positions for engagement with said first detent means to'releasably hold Said slide member at either of said limiting positions;both of said leg means movable by the manual adjustment of said firstleg means from an open position, at which first limiting position andsaid first and second leg means extend outwardly from said base, to aclosed position, by folding movement of said first and second leg meanstoward one another, at which closed position said first detent means isin engagmeent with said second detent means at said second limitingposition and said first and seocnd leg means lie fiat against theunderside of said base in overlapped relation.

11. A collapsible leg assembly for furniture and the like comprising afiat supporting base having a pair of oppositely extending lateralshoulders at a first end portion thereof, and a pair of depending guideflanges disposed along the side edges of a second end portion of saidbase, a slide member slidably disposed between said guide flanges on theunderside of said base and being movable between first and secondlimiting positions; a first leg means pivotally aifixed at one end tosaid slide member; a first pair of brace members each pivotallyconnected at its respective ends to an opposite edge of the centralportion of said base and a corresponding edge of an intermediate portionof said first leg means, whereby a movable fulcrum is provided for saidfirst leg means and movement of said first leg means swings the sameabout said fulcrum and causes said slide member to move toward one ofsaid limiting positions, a second leg means consisting of a pair ofinterconnected leg members pivotally mounted in a spaced relation to oneanother at said first end portion of said base and adjacent respectiveof said lateral shoulders thereof, a second pair of brace members eachpivotally connected to one end to an intermediate portion of the outeredge of a respective one of said interconnected leg members and at itsother end to said slide member; first detent means on said slide memberand complementary second detent means on said supporting base at each ofsaid limiting positions for engagement with said first detent means toreleasably hold said slide member at either of said limiting positions;both of said leg means movable by the manualadjustment of said first legmeans from an open position, at which said first detent means is inengagement with said second detent means at said first limiting positionand said first and second leg means extend outwardly from said base, to,a closed position, by folding movement of said first and second legmeans toward one another, at which closed position said first detentmeans is in engagement with said second detent means at said secondlimiting position and said first and second leg means lie flat againstthe underside of said base in overlapped relation; the second leg meansbeing sandwiched between said base and, said first leg means, and catchmeans disposed on said base for releasably holding said first leg meansin said closed position.

12. A collapsible leg assembly for furniture and the like comprising aflat supporting base having a pair of oppositely extending lateralshoulders at a first end portion thereof, and a pair of depending guideflanges dis: posed along the side edges of a second end portion of saidbase, a slide member slidably disposed between said guide flanges on theunderside of said base and being movable between first and secondlimiting positions; a first leg means pivotally afiixed at one end tosaid slide member, means for adjusting said first leg means to apreselected length; a first pair of brace members each pivotallyconnected at its respective ends to an opposite edge of the centralportion of said base and a corresponding edge of an intermediateposition of said first leg means, whereit m v ble fulcrum is. providedfor said first leg means and movement of said first leg means swings thesame about said fulcrum and causes said slide member to move toward oneof said limiting positions, a second leg means consisting of a pair ofinterconnected leg members pivotally mounted in a spaced relation to oneanother at said first end portion of said base and adjacent respectiveof said lateral shoulders thereof, a second pair of brace members eachpivotally connected at one end to an intermediate portion of the outeredge of a respective one of said interconnected leg members and at itsother end to said slide member; first detent means on said slide memberand complementary second detent means on said supporting base at each ofsaid limiting positions for engagement with said first detent means toreleasably hold said slide member at either of said limiting positions;both of said leg means movable by the manual adjustment of said firstleg means from an open position, at which said first detent means is inengagement with said second detent means at said first limiting positionand said first and second leg means extend outwardly from said base, toa closed position, by folding movement of said first and second legmeans toward one another, at which closed position said first detentmeans is in engagement with said second detent means at said secondlimiting position and said first and second leg means lie fiat againstthe underside of said base in overlapped relation; the second leg meansbeing sandwiched between said base and said first leg means; and catchmeans disposed on said base for releasably holding said first leg meansin said closed position.

13. A collapsible leg assembly for furniture and the like comprising aflat supporting base having a pair of oppositely extending lateralshoulders at a first end portion thereof, and a pair of depending guideflanges disposed along the side edges of a second end portion of saidbase, a slide member slidalbly disposed between said guide flanges onthe underside of said base and being movable between first and secondlimiting positions; a first leg means pivotally aflixed at one end tosaid slide member, said first leg means consisting of a single legmember having two longitudinally adjustable parts for varying the lengththereof, means for maintaining said parts in any preselected positionrelative to one another; a first pair of brace members each pivotallyconnected at its respective ends to an opposite edge of the centralportion of said base and a corresponding edge of an intermediate portionof said first leg means, whereby a movable fulcrum is provided for saidfirst leg means and movement of said first leg means swings the sameabout said fulcrum and causes said slide member to move toward one ofsaid limiting positions, a second leg means consisting of a pair ofinterconnected leg members pivotally mounted in a spaced relation to oneanother at said first end portion of said base and adjacent respectiveof said lateral shoulders thereof, a second pair of brace members eachpivotally connected at one end to an intermediate portion of the outeredge of a respective one of said interconnected leg members and at itsother end to said slide member; first detent means on said slide memberand complementary second detent means on said supporting base at each ofsaid limiting positions for engagement with said first detent means toreleasably hold said slide member at either of said limitin positions;both of said leg means movable by the manual adjustment of said firstleg means from an open position, at which said first detent means is inengagement with said second detent means at said first limiting positionand said first and second leg means extend outwardly from said base, toa closed position, by folding movement of said first and second legmeans toward one another, at which closed position said first detentmeans is in engagement with said second detent means at said secondlimiting position and said first and second leg means lie fiat againstthe underside of said base in overlapped relation; the second leg meansbeing sandwiched between said base and said first leg means; and catchmeans disposed on said base for releasably holding said first leg meansin said closed position.

14. A collapsible leg assembly for furniture and the like comprising aflat supporting base having a pair of oppositely extending lateralshoulders at a first end portion thereof, and a pair of depending guideflanges disposed along the side edges of a second end portion of saidbase, a slide member slidably disposed between said guide flanges on theunderside of said base and being movable between first and secondlimiting positions; a first leg means pivotally aflixed at one end tosaid slide member, said first leg means consisting of a single legmember having two longitudinally adjustable parts for varying the lengththereof, means for maintaining said parts in any preselected positionrelative to one another, and the other end of said first leg meanshaving a bifurcated foot portion; a first pair of brace members eachpivotally connected at its respective ends to an opposite edge of thecentral portion of said base and a corresponding edge of an intermediateportion of said first leg means, whereby a movable fulcrum is providedfor said first leg means and movement of said first leg means swings thesame about said fulcrum and causes said slide member to move toward oneof said limiting positions, a second leg means consisting of a pair ofinterconnected leg members pivotally mounted in a spaced relation to oneanother at said first end portion of said base and adjacent respectiveof said lateral shoulders thereof, a second pair of brace members eachpivotally connected at one end to an intermediate portion of the outeredge of a respective one of said interconnected leg members and at itsother end to said slide member; stop means aflixed to said base adjacentthe ends of said guide flanges near said first limiting position toprevent separation of said slide member from said flanges; ball andspring detent means disposed on said slide member for releasablyengaging respective holes in said base member at said limiting positionsto releasably hold said slide memher at either of said positions; bothof said leg means movable by the manual adjustment of said first legmeans from an open position, at which said ball and spring detent meansengages the hold at said first limiting position and said first andsecond leg means extend outwardly from said base, to a closed position,by folding movement of said first and second leg means toward oneanother, at which closed position the ball and spring detent means ofsaid slide member engages the hole at said second limiting position andsaid first and second leg means lie flat against the underside of saidbase in overlapped relation; the second leg means being sandwichedbetween said base and said first leg means; and catch means disposed onsaid base for releasably holding said first leg means in said closedposition.

15. A collapsible leg assembly for furniture and the like comprising aflat supporting base having a pair of oppositely extending lateralshoulders at a first end portion thereof, and a pair of depending guideflanges disposed along the side edges of a second end portion of saidbase, a slide member slidably disposed between said guide flanges on theunderside of said base and being movable between first and secondlimiting positions; a first leg means pivotally afiixed at one end tosaid slide member, said first leg means consisting of a single legmember having two longitudinally adjustable parts for varying the lengththereof, means for maintaining said parts in any preselected positionrelative to one another, and the other end of said first leg meanshaving a bifurcated foot portion; a first pair of brace members eachpivotally connected at its respective ends to an opposite edge of thecentral portion of said base and a corresponding edge of an intermediateportion of said first leg means, whereby a movable fulcrum is providedfor said first leg means and movement of said first leg means swings thesame about said fulcrum and causes said slide member to move toward oneof said limiting positions, a second leg means consisting of a pair ofinterconnected leg members pivotally mounted in a spaced relation to oneanother at said first end portion of said base and adjacent respectiveof said lateral shoulders thereof, a second pair of brace members eachpivotally connected at one end to an intermediate portion of the outeredge of a respective one of said interconnected leg members and at itsother end to said slide member; stop means aflixed to said base adjacentthe ends of said guide flanges near said first limiting position toprevent separation of said slide member from said flanges; ball andspring detent means disposed on said slide member for releasablyengaging re spective holes in said base member at said limitingpositions to releasably hold said slide member at either of saidpositions; both of said leg means movable by the manual adjustment ofsaid first leg means from an open position, at which said ball andspririg detent means engages the hold at said first limiting positionand said first and second leg means extend outwardly from said base, toa closed position, by folding movement of said first and second legmeans toward one another, at which closed position the ball and springdetent means of said slide member engages the hole at said secondlimiting position and said first and second leg means lie flat againstthe underside of said base in overlapped relation; the second leg meansbeing sandwiched between said base and said first leg means; and catchmeans disposed on said base for releasably holding said first leg meansin said closed position; and resilient means on the outer end of eachleg member for providing a contacting surface for said assembly withrespect to a supporting foundation in both the open and closed positionof said assembly.

16. A collapsible leg assembly for furniture and the like comprising afiat supporting base having a pair of oppositely extending lateralshoulders at a first end portion thereof, and a pair of depending guideflanges disposed along the side edges of a second end portion of saidbase, a slide member slidably disposed between said guide flanges on theunderside of said base and being movable between first and secondlimiting positions; a first leg means pivotally alfixed at one end tosaid slide member, said first leg means consisting of a single legmember having two longitudinally adjustable parts for varying the lengththereof, means for maintaining said parts in any preselected positionrelative to one another, and the other end of said first leg meanshaving a bifurcated foot portion; a first pair of brace members eachpivotally connected at its respective ends to an opposite edge of thecentral portion of said base and a corresponding edge of an intermediateportion of said first leg means, whereby a movable fulcrum is providedfor said first lcg means and movement of said first leg means swings thesame about said fulcrum and causes said slide member to move toward oneof said limiting positions, a second leg means consisting of a pair ofinterconnected leg members pivotally mounted in a spaced relation to oneanother at said first end portion of said base and adjacent respectiveof said lateral shoulders thereof, a second pair of brace members eachpivotally connected at one end to an intermediate portion of the outeredge of a respective one of said interconnected leg members and at itsother end to said slide member; stop means affixed to said base adjacentthe ends of said guide flanges near said first limiting position toprevent separation of said slide member from said flanges; ball andspring detent means disposed on said slide member for releasablyengaging respective holes in said base member at said limiting positions to releasably hold said slide member at either of said positions;both of said leg means movable by the manual adjustment of said firstleg means from an open position, at which said ball and spring detentmeans engages the hole at said first limiting position and said firstand second leg means extend outwardly from said base, to a closedposition, by folding movement of said first and 13 14 second leg meanstoward one another, at Which closed member for providing a contactingsurface for said asposition the ball and spring detent means of saidslide sembly with respect to a supporting foundation in both memberengages the hole at said second limiting position the p n d Closed POSitOH of s id assembly.

and said first and second leg means lie flat against the underside ofsaid base in overlapped relation; the second 5 References Cited in thefile of this Patent leg means being sandwiched between said base andsaid UNITED STATES PATENTS first leg means, the depth of the closedassembly being 1,520,539 M tko i D 23, 1924 less than A", and catchmeans disposed on said base for 1,988,811 Salomon J an. 22, 1935releasably holding said first leg means in said closed posi- 2,656,232Raphael Oct. 20, 1953 tion; and resilient means on the outer end of eachleg 10 2,828,098 Lehmann Mar. 25, 1958

